OTTAWA, Ontario — In a matchup of teams fighting for position at the tail end of the Eastern Conference playoff structure, the Bruins dropped a 6-5 shootout decision to the Senators on Saturday at Canadian Tire Centre.

The Senators’ shootout win over the Bruins encapsulated everything we love about hockey — beautiful goals, crazy saves, an unbelievable comeback and even some fisticuffs. It was the sport at its purest and best.

Tim Stutzle scored the only goal in the shootout and had a goal and an assist, Norris scored twice, and Merilainen made 23 saves for the Senators (23-18-4), who are 4-0-1 in their past five games.

In a wildly entertaining and raucous game, the Bruins had their most emotional win of the season in their grasp only to cough up a two-goal lead late in the final 3:13 of regulation and lose in a shootoout.

J.T. Miller fakes out EVERYBODY and feeds it to a wide open Jake ... While the Bruins might be willing to relinquish more draft capital (an annual tradition in recent years for Boston) or even ...

Down 5-3 to the rival Boston Bruins with the goalie pulled, the Senators scored twice in the final four minutes to tie the game, then won it 6-5 in the shootout. The victory, for the time being, moves Ottawa into the first Wild Card position (WC1) in the Eastern Conference, now tied in points with Columbus and Boston.

With the early lead, the Sens kept the pressure up. Around the 7 minute mark, Norris beat Swayman clean... but couldn't beat the post. The Bruins were lucky to not be down 2-0, but that wouldn't last long.

Boston Bruins are expected to healthy scratch a surprising player ahead of their game against the Ottawa Senators

The Boston Bruins have a 22-18-4 record over 46 games for 49 points and a 53.3% winning percentage. The Ottawa Senators (and ugh... Montréal Canadiens) have a 22-18-4 record over 44 games for 48 points and a 54.5% winning percentage.

The Isles earned the game's first powerplay, but that PP looked every bit like a unit that's converting at a 10.6% clip on the season and is 0 for their last 24. Unfortunately, the Isles did take over momentum and proceeded to get the final 7 shots of the period, but they couldn't score.

We are firmly into the second half with a neck-and-neck-and-neck race for the top of the fantasy podium. Connor Hellebuyck will surely start getting some additional rest later in the season, so ...